Boat propelling mechanism



April 2, 1940. P. oDwYER 2,195,597

BOAT PROPELLING MEcHANIsM Original Filed Nov. 2, 1938 l IN VENTOR. Pfl/1P wnez? 'f ATTO EY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES afl'rrzlvl ortica Application November 2, 1938, -Serial No. 238,460

Renewed February 23, 1940 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a new and useful ime provement in a boat -propelling mechanism adapted for use in propelling aboatthrough the water and manually operable, the propelling mechanism being operated by the occupants of the boat. The invention lends itself tc the type of boat commonly referred to as a rowboat regardless `as to whether it is of the small type propelled by one rower or of the larger type in l0 which a large number of "rowers are engaged in the propelling action.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism whereby a rockable lever may be used through cooperation with reciproeating members for transmitting a rotary motion to a shaft geared for rotating a screw propeller and in which a maximum efficiency may be obtained.

It is another object of the invention to prov vide a mechanism of this type in which the rockable lever may be connected by a dual connection to a crankshaft so that the lever mounted pivotally between its ends may serve effectively to rotate the crankshaft lboth through the upper portion and lower portion of the lever.

Experience has shown that in devices of this kindk with a dual connection to a crankshaft and particularly where the reciprocating rods are positioned substantially in alignment one above the other, a locking of the crankshaft against rotation is effected and in order to overcome this it is necessary that a floating shaft be provided for the rockabl-e lever and this I have accomplished by a mechanism in which the lever is pivotally mounted for a more efficient operation.

Another object of the invention is'the provis-ion of a boat propelling mechanism which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, compact, durable and easily operated and installed.

' Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specication, and in-which Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan view of a boat showing the invention applied with parts broken away. l

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, central, vertical, sectional view o-f the invention showing it applied to aboat.

Fig. k3`is' a's'ectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i1-is.a'fragrnentary'side elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is'1a-fragmentary,sectional view taken l on line 5*-5 ofFig. 4. s I `In the drawing I- have illustrated the invention applied to aboat 9 having a plurality of crossplates I0 which serve as seats for the` oc-V cupants of the boat. Extending longitudinally 1.0 of the boatat substantially the lower medialr line thereof andA overlying and resting upon the pivoted intermediate its ends on a crank I1 gi formed'on'a rod I8 which is journalled in the 'openings I9 and 20` formed in the standards I4 and I5, respectively.

A screw propeller 2| is xedly mounted on va shaft 22 which extends through the guide sleeve 25 23 into the interior of the boat and which carries on its inner end a bevel gear 24 adapted to mesh with a bevel gear 25 xedly mounted on the shaft 26, this shaft 26 being journalled in the bearings 21 mounted on a suitable sup- 30 porting structure in the boat. As shown vin l'ig.` 1, I have provided a pair of these rods 22 each carrying itsA bevel gear meshing with the cooperating bevel gear 25. In the form shown in Fig. l, I have formed a pair of cranks 28 and 35 29 in the shaft 26, these cranks being extended in opposite directions from each other so that they are spaced apart one hundred and eightyv (180) degrees. It is believed obvious that ifit is desired to attach a pair of operating mech- 40 anisms for rotating the shaft 26, four of the cranks may be provided instead of the two cranks 28 and 29 which are illustrated in which event the cranks would be spaced apart circumferentially ninety degrees instead of one hun- 46 dred and eighty (180) degrees.

above the point of the pivot of the lever IE. The rod 33 is similarly connected by meansI of the pin 35 to each of the levers i6 below the point of pivot. Extended through the upper end of each of the levers I6 is a hand grip 36.

The construction is such that when the levers I6 are rocked on their pivots, the rods 3| and 33 are reciprocated to effect a rotation of the shaft 26 and thus serve to rotate the screw propellers 2i for propelling the boat. It will be noted that the rod 33 is connected to the lever H on the side opposite to that at which the rod 3i is connected so that while these rods are positioned in superimposed relation are laterally offset from each other the width of the lever I6. When the levers i6 are rocked, the crank IT also rocks as this motion is necessary in order to prevent a binding of the rods 3l and 33. Consequently, the levers i6 are pivotally mounted on a floating shaft and each is pivotally connected above its 'point of pivot tc'one of the operating rods and rbelow its point of pivot to the other operating rod.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the rod I8 is a straight rod which serves as a pivot but which projects at its opposite ends through elongated slots i9 formed in the standards i4 and I5. In this construction the floating mounting of the pivotis still present.

With a construction as illustrated, I have provided a box-like longitudinally extending structure which serves to reenforce the boat and which also serves as a means for enclosing the reciprocating rods 3l and 33 and serving as a guide therefor.

It is believed obvious that a person seated on the seat-forming plate Hl may easily operate the propelling mechanism regardless of the direction the operator is faced and that a maximum efciency is obtained in the construction illus- Q trated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forni of construction, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claim What I claim as new is:

A device of the class described, adapted for use with a boat having a bottom and a plurality of transverse seats comprising: an elongated guide strip extending longitudinally of said boat centrally thereof, in engagement with said seats, and provided with a plurality of spaced elongated longitudinally extending slots; spaced standards projecting upwardly from the bottom of said boat, said standards having, at spaced intervals, between the upper and lower edges thereof, registering, longitudinally-directed, elongated slots; a plurality of levers each of said levers projecting at its upper end through a slot formed in said guide strip; a pin projecting through each of said levers intermediate its ends and engagingA in registering slots in said standards, a crankshaft extending transversely of said boat adjacent one end and having a pair of cranks circumferentially relatively rotated; an operating rod extending longitudinally of said boat below said guilde,` strip and above the point of pivot of said levers and between said standards pivotally connected to one side of each of said levers; means for connecting one end of said rod to one of the cranks of said shaft; a longitudinally extending operating rod extending below said guide strip and below the point `of pivot of said levers and between said standards and pivotally connected to the opposite side of each of said levers below the point ofpivot of said levers; means for connecting said last-named rod to the other crank of said crankshaft for effecting, upon a rocking of said levers, a rota tion of said crankshaft; and boat propelling means operable upon the rotation of said crankshaft.

PHILIP ODWYER. 

